Augustus traver



A'.TR A-VER.

} .FQLDING CASE.

(ModeL) No. 294.938 Patented Mar. 11, 1884..

Fries.

AUGUSTUS .TRAVER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 294,938, dated March 11, 1884.

Application filed April 19, 1883. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS TRAVER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a compound folding case which is composed of a connected series of shallow boxes or compartments hinged one upon another,to foldor unfold in a manner affording certain advantages, which will hereinafter appear; and it relates more particularly to boxes of light structure-such as cardboard-which are designed to contain small articles of merchandise, such as gloves and laces.

The object of this invention is, first, to permit the convenient access to or frequent exposition of the contents of the case without their disturbance or injury; and, second, to facilitate the immediate inclosure and protection of said contents from dust or light when it is desired to pack or place them within a small space. I accomplish these results with the de vice illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and which represent the application of my invention to a shelf glove-box more especially for retailers use.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the compound case folded in compact form. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case spread open, showing the extended series of boxes or compartments which comprise the whole. Fig. 3 is a central cross-section through the line as m, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the views.

The several boxes A A A A, which comprise the compound case shown folded in Fig. 1, are each composed of two longitudinal side bars, it, Figs. 2 and 3, and end pieces, j j, preferably of wood or card-board, which are securely joined, so as to form a rigid and durable frame-work, upon which the bottoms k, of pasteboard or other suitable material, are mounted. The boxes thus formed are provided with lids b b b b, respectively hinged at m m with strong cloth or other suitable hinges,

upon which they open freely when the com- I bined case is laid open, as appears in Figs. 2 and 3. These lids b b b b are provided with suitable fasteners (shown at s) in the form of a turn-button, in order to secure them tightly when closed. Each compartment constituting the folding case is thus a complete box in itself; and the principal feature of this inven tion consists in hinging together these several boxes or compartments A A AA in such manner that when the entire case is opened and extended, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lids, or, in the absence of lids, the open sides, of the said boxes or compartments, respectively, shall lie upward, appearing at one view, in order to permit the convenient inspection of the goods contained therein, and that by the folding of the said case the lids or open sides of the several boxes or compartments shall fold inwardly face to face, as indicated at o and 1), Fig. 1, thereby insuring complete protection to the goods from light or atmospheric exposure. This manner of folding is accomplished by locating the hinges e f g, as shown, on alternate corners of the boxes A A A A, whereby they fold or double upon thems'elvessuccessivelyin alternatedirections,fornr ing the compact case illustrated in Fig. 1, and exposing only the bottom sides of the two outside boxes. These bottom sides of the two outer boxes may be protected from wear at their corners by metallic escutcheons 1'. The whole case is secured in its closed position by asuitable clasp, insuring the perfect closure of the boxes or compartments and their adjacent lids at 0 and 12.

It is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to the number of boxes or compartments shown in the accompanying drawings, whereas any number may be employed in the manner shown.

The construction herein described provides an inexpensive and durable contrivance well adapted as a shelf-box for the use especially of retailers of kid gloves, one great advantage being that the closed case may be placed in a small space on a shelf or in pigeon-holes. Each compartment of the folding case is designed to contain several pairs of gloves, and when closed the gloves are held in place quite hat, and are protected from exposure to dust and light, which would soil or fade them, and to a great extent from exposure to the atmospherc,w11ere by they are kept in much better condition than would otherwise be practicable,witl1 the same facilities for showing them to customers.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters I Patent is- As an improved article of manufacture, a sel l l er alternately at the bottom and'top, and pro vided each with a cover, and adapted to be unfolded to expose each opening surface, and to I 5 be refolded into one compact case, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of April, A. D. 1883.

AUGUSTUS TRAVER. lVitnesses:

J OHN J. PRATT, J 01m H. PARSONS.

ries of boxes or cases substantially of equal size, consisting of four or more, hinged togeth- 

